Word of the Month…

Studies have shown your income and wealth are directly related to the size and depth of your vocabulary. Here is this month’s word, so you can impress your friends (and maybe even fatten your wallet!)…

Sandbox game (noun)

Meaning: a kind of video game in which players can change the game’s environment as if they’re the designers

 Sample Sentence: Minecraft's widespread appeal is no doubt due to the fact that it's a versatile sandbox game, allowing every player to customize their Minecraft world as much as they like.

DIY Watering System for Indoor Plants

This watering method will keep your plants hydrated for roughly five days.

1. Use an empty bottle (a large glass water bottle or 2-liter soda bottle would work). Be sure the bottle’s cap is either metal or plastic.

2. Carefully poke several holes in the bottle cap using a hammer and nail.

3. Fill the bottle with water, put the cap back on, and bury the bottle (cap-end down!) in the soil of a houseplant. The hole doesn’t need to be deep, it just needs to support the bottle so it doesn’t fall over.

Hawaiian Pizza Is Actually Canadian

The popular pineapple-and-ham combo was invented by a Greek pizzeria owner in Ontario, Canada, in the 1960s.

Quotes To Live By…

"Sometimes surrender means giving up trying to understand and becoming comfortable with not knowing.”

   –Eckhart Tolle, teacher and author

“Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.”                                                         –Alex Haley, writer

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”                          –Ryunosuke Satoro, writer

A Brief Guide To Tipping

     Knowing when and how much to tip for services rendered can be confusing. While leaving one is technically optional, a tip is a critical part of the wages that waitstaff, taxi drivers, barbers, delivery drivers, and other essential workers earn. In fact, many states allow workers to be paid far less than minimum wage if they also get tips.

     Plan to tip the people who serve you in restaurants, hotels, bars, taxis (or rideshares), and beauty salons. And while your own financial situation should go into the decision of how much to tip, here are some general guidelines.

• Restaurants: A tip of 15-20% indicates you’re pleased with the service. Leave more for a truly five-star experience. If the service was bad, consider talking to a manager before you simply skip the tip. Note that many restaurants will automatically include a gratuity for a large group, so find out if the tip has already been added to your bill before you pay.
• Hotels: If you get help bringing your bags to your room or hailing a taxi, be prepared with $2 per bag hauled or $5 per taxi hailed. If the bags are heavy or the doorman has to stand in the rain for you, tip more. Leave $3-5 each day for housekeeping.
• Bars/Clubs: Tip the bartender $1-2 per drink, or 10-15% on a bar bill. For coat check at the club, $2-3 per coat is good (even if there’s a charge for the service).
• Salons: Tipping your hairdresser or nail technician 15-20% is a great idea.
• Taxis/Rideshares: Tipping about 15% for taxis or rideshares is fairly standard, though if the driver helps you with heavy bags consider tipping more.
• Delivery: For food deliveries, tips of 10-15% are a good idea (more if the weather is terrible). For package deliveries, however, no tip is expected.

     Keep in mind that tipping etiquette varies considerably in other countries, so before you travel be sure to read about the local tipping customs.

 www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

A Heartfelt Message To All My Clients And Friends...

I want to share a little secret with you.  I don’t spend my time cold calling or pestering people for business.  Instead, I focus 110% of my efforts on giving such outstanding service that people naturally think of me when a friend, neighbor, or family member needs a caring and competent REALTOR®.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge and thank all my clients and friends who’ve helped build my business with their enduring support and referrals.  I couldn’t do it without you!

Brain Teaser

Two men, a doctor and postman, are in love with the same woman. Before he leaves on a week-long trip, the postman gives her seven apples. Why?

(See page 4 for the answer.)

What’s My Home Worth?

If you want to know your home’s current value, I will gladly conduct a Maximum Value Home Audit. Request this “no charge” in-depth home value analysis by emailing me at Sales@RudyPerkinsRealty.com

Reusable Dusting & Mopping Pads

Save money and reduce waste by using household items with your Swiffer mop instead of disposable pads!

-Dry Dusting: Dryer sheets (even used ones make great dust collectors)

-Mopping: Dishcloth-sized rags or an old (clean!) sock pulled over the mop head; spray cleaner directly on floors

Procrastinating Early

Teacher: “You’re not going to amount to anything if you don’t stop procrastinating.”

Johnny: “I’ll show you. Just you wait!”

Workout Tracking Apps & Websites

Keeping track of your exercise routines helps you stay motivated and focused—and apps like these make it easy to do.

mapmyfitness.com: The easy-to-use exercise and food tracking app, Map My Fitness (iOS and Android), even includes activities like vacuuming or grocery shopping.

8fit.com: Meal planning and workout tracking go hand in hand in the 8fit app, which is designed to help people set healthy, achievable goals and then meet them.

charitymiles.org: If running, cycling, or walking is a mainstay of your workout routine and you like donating money to causes you believe in, try Charity Miles to earn money for those causes with every mile you cover.

Early Symptoms Of Gum Disease

    Taking care of your oral health for its own sake is great, but did you know that many major diseases can be linked to poor oral health? It can put you at greater risk for heart disease and Alzheimer’s, and illnesses like diabetes and cancer have oral symptoms—meaning your dentist could identify a more serious illness at an early stage. While much of our attention to oral health focuses on our teeth, it’s actually bacteria build-up along the gums that often cause the biggest medical issues. Here are some gum disease symptoms to watch for and tell your dentist about:

• Inflamed, sore, or bleeding gums: One of the first symptoms of poor gum health is, thankfully, easy to spot. Gums should not be swollen, feel sore, and bleed when you brush. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to your dentist.
• Chronic bad breath: The bacteria in your mouth give off toxins as they feast on the plaque build-up, and those toxins don’t smell good. If your breath remains bad even after you’ve brushed, it could be a sign of more serious gum disease.
• Longer-looking teeth: If you notice that your teeth appear “longer,” it’s not that they’ve grown—it’s that your gums have receded.
• Sensitive teeth: Another sign of receding gums is that your teeth might suddenly be more sensitive to things like cold beverages or sweets.

 5 Quick Housecleaning Tips

     Let’s face it—unexpected guests can make even the most fastidious people panic a little about what they think is a messy house. Fortunately, there are a few easy things you can do in an hour or less that will make your home appear cleaner than it really is—and we’re not talking about just throwing everything into a junk drawer or hallway closet.

• Clear the clutter: Pile books and magazines neatly on the coffee table. Put dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Straighten up kitchen countertops.
• Wipe down bathroom surfaces: Give sinks, counters, and mirrors the once-over with a cleaning rag, and spend some time making sure the toilet is free from stains and odors.
• Deodorize and vacuum: Sprinkle some baking soda over the carpet and then, after 15 minutes, vacuum.
• Take out the trash: Empty the garbage cans in both the bathroom and the kitchen.
• Add a pleasant scent: Rather than spritzing a chemical air freshener into every room, try simmering cinnamon sticks and half an orange in water. You can kill two birds with one stone in the kitchen, too: Use a halved lemon to clean chrome surfaces, then pour lemon juice in the drain and run some of the rind into the garbage disposal.

 www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

Here's A Free, Valuable Resource...

Now You Can Search The Home Market, Get Helpful Community Information, AND Receive Important Resources For Saving Time And Money When Buying Or Selling At www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

Thanks For Thinking of Me!

Did you know I can help you or any of your friends or family save time and money when buying or selling a home? Thanks for keeping me in mind with your referrals…and spreading the word about my services.

Brain Teaser Answer:

Because an apple a day, keeps the doctor away!

Tips for Cleaning Pillows

While experts say replacing your pillows entirely every two years or so is a good idea, you may not realize how often you should be cleaning them—or that different types of pillows require different cleaning methods.

Plan to wash your pillows every three-four months. Always read the washing instructions on the pillow’s labels, but note that most down pillows can go in the washer and dryer (foam pillows cannot). Cleaning machine-washable pillows in pairs helps keep the washing machine balanced. Add a few wool dryer balls or (clean!) tennis balls to the drying machine to help fluff pillows during the drying process.

THANK YOU for reading Rudy Perkins Realty, my

newsletter. I wanted to produce a newsletter that has great content and is fun and valuable to you. Your constructive feedback is always welcome.

AND…whether you’re thinking of buying, selling or financing real estate, or just want to stop by and say “Hi,” I’d love to hear from you…

RUDOLPH PERKINS

Rudy Perkins Realty

12032433820

rudolphperkins19@gmail.com

_{Disclaimer: The information contained in this letter is intended for informational purposes. It should not substitute as legal, accounting, investment, medical or other professional services advice. Always seek a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. This letter is not intended to solicit real estate properties currently for sale.}

Real Estate Corner…

Q. Why is it important to do a walk-through before closing on a home?  

A. You need to do a walk-through with your REALTOR^® typically within 24 hours of your closing to make sure the home is in the condition specified in the contract.  

     You’ll want to look at each room (which now should be empty and clean), examine the hardwood floors, check the ceilings for leaks (in case there has been a recent storm), test the windows, turn on the appliances, etc. to ensure there aren’t any surprises.  You also want to check on the completion of any negotiated repairs or replacements that you and the seller agreed upon. 

     If you find any problems, your REALTOR^® will help you determine what you should pursue (such as possible new leak under the sink) with the seller or what you can handle yourself. 

     If you’re buying a new home, you need to visit the property with the builder’s representative and create a “punch list” of items that are not completed to discuss at closing.  It would be best if you got written confirmation on when the builder will complete those items.

Want to learn more?  Copy and paste this link into your browser to get my Free Consumer Report called “Top 10 First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes To Avoid.”  https://www.rudyperkinsrealty.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/First-Time-Buyers.pdf

Do you have a question related to real estate or homeownership?  Please email me at Sales@RudyPerkinsRealty.com.  Perhaps I’ll feature your item in my next issue!

www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

“Who Else Wants To Win

$50.00 Gift Certificate?”

Last month's quiz question.

Which of these is not part of a decathlon?

a) Hammer throw  b) High jump  c) 110-meter hurdles  d) 1500-meter run

The answer is a) hammer throw. The decathlon consists of 10 disciplines and was introduced at the 1912 Olympics. So let’s move on to THIS month’s trivia question.

What popular 1980s TV show had one of the most-watched single episodes in television history?

a) Dallas b) M*A*S*H c) Dynasty  d) Roseanne

Email Me At Sales@RudyPerkinsRealty.com

And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!